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Culture / 1 week ago

Faith and power: How religion still shapes the Middle East

From the Mediterranean coast to the Persian Gulf, the Middle East is a patchwork of belief, a living mosaic of faiths that have coexisted, overlapped, and at times collided for centuries. The sea of green across the map above represents Sunni Muslims, the largest branch of Islam, stretching from Egypt and Saudi Arabia through to Turkey and Jordan.

World / 5 weeks ago

When faith shapes law: The global map of state-backed religions

The world has become increasingly diverse and interconnected; thus, around 40 countries maintain a formal link between religion and the state. A produced by The World in Maps categorises these nations by their official or constitutionally endorsed faiths — Christianity (in red), Islam (in green), and Buddhism (in dark grey) — pointing to the enduring complexity of how states and religions interact globally.

Culture / 7 weeks ago

India’s Religious Map: A portrait of faith, diversity, and change

India is home to one of the most complex religious landscapes in the world, and a map based on the 2011 Census captures this vividly. The visualisation shows the largest religion in every district across the country, revealing that Hinduism is the majority faith in nearly every part of India, while pockets of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others form distinct majorities in certain regions.

Maps / 11 weeks ago

Africa’s religious divide: Map reveals a Muslim north, a Christian south and one Hindu-majority state

Across North Africa and parts of the Sahel, Islam dominates; most of central and southern Africa is majority Christian; and only Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, is predominantly Hindu. Islam first reached Africa in the seventh century when the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates spread the faith across the northern edge of the continent. Over time, Muslim kingdoms and trans-Saharan trade networks entrenched Islam across North and West Africa.

Culture / 20 weeks ago

The world's least religious? Macau, South Korea, and Hong Kong say yes

A new report by World Population Review highlights an intriguing trend in global belief systems: atheism continues to rise, especially in urbanised and technologically advanced societies. The latest ranking identifies Macau as the world’s most atheist region, with 59.3% of its population identifying as non-believers.

World / 22 weeks ago

Top 10 countries with the largest Catholic populations

In a world where faith remains a powerful cultural force, recent data from World Population Review and Catholic World Mission highlight the countries with the largest Catholic populations. Unsurprisingly, Brazil emerges at the top of the list, boasting a staggering 140 million Catholics. According to the latest reports, Catholicism in Brazil dates back to 1500, when it was introduced by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral. The faith deeply ingrained itself into Brazilian society, shaping its culture and traditions for centuries.

Maps / 23 weeks ago

The second most popular religion in each U.S. state

While Christianity remains the largest religion across the United States of America, the second largest religion in each state reveals a surprising diversity. These findings highlight the multicultural and multi-faith reality of the United States in the 21st century. According to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census, Islam ranks as the second largest religion in the majority of states, including California, Texas, New York, and Florida, reflecting the growth of Muslim communities in both urban and suburban areas.

World / 28 weeks ago

Who will be the next pope?

Roman Catholic cardinals will begin a secret conclave to elect the next pope on May 7, a senior Vatican source told Reuters on Monday, April 28. Although not announced officially, the decision was made during the first closed-door meeting of cardinals since Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, April 26.

World / 29 weeks ago

Easter celebrations around the world: Sometimes loud, sometimes whispered

For centuries, Easter has been a moment to reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a sacred moment symbolising redemption and the cleansing of sins across the world. However, due to diversity and rights to worship, Easter is not the same for everyone.

The world’s largest religions.[ VGraphs] (1)

World / 30 weeks ago

Religions through time: The rise and shift of global faiths

In the early centuries of recorded history, Hinduism emerged as the dominant global religion. Rooted in the Indian subcontinent, it held the largest following for much of ancient and medieval history due to population growth and cultural consolidation in South Asia. Subsequently, Christianity’s explosive rise from the 1st century CE became evident. Spurred by the Roman Empire’s adoption and European colonisation over centuries, Christianity surpassed all other religions by the 16th–17th century and has maintained that lead into the modern day.

Culture / 42 weeks ago

Global beliefs about the afterlife: A world values survey perspective

A recent analysis of the World Values Survey (2017–2022) has revealed significant differences in beliefs about the afterlife across the globe, with religious traditions playing a major role in shaping public views. According to the findings, countries with strong Islamic and Christian traditions show notably high levels of belief in life after death, while secular nations report much lower belief rates. Bangladesh leads the survey with an overwhelming 98.8% of respondents expressing belief in the afterlife. This is followed closely by Morocco at 96.2% and Libya at 95.2%, underscoring the deep influence of Islam in these regions. Both Ethiopia and the Philippines, where Christian and Islamic traditions dominate, also report high belief levels, with 82.4% and 83.8% of respondents, respectively, affirming a belief in life after death.

Culture / 46 weeks ago

Christmas traditions across the globe

The most celebrated festival worldwide, Christmas has been a source of joy and diverse events. To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God, over 2 billion Christians around the world have various traditions for this special day.

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